For one person, living is cheaper in Italy: $1,843 a month against $3,046 in Hong Kong (China), rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Hong Kong (China) and in Italy
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hong Kong (China) and in Italy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $3,046 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $1,843 in Italy, rent included.
Hong Kong (China) $3,046
Italy $1,843
A couple spends around $4,715 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $2,816 in Italy, rent included.
Hong Kong (China) $4,715
Italy $2,816
A family of three spends $6,384 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $3,788 in Italy, rent included.
Hong Kong (China) $6,384
Italy $3,788
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Italy ($1,038–$2,555) than in Hong Kong (China) ($3,028–$3,028), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Hong Kong (China) is about 65% higher than in Italy on average.
📊
Both Hong Kong (China) and Italy are pricier than the global median – Hong Kong (China) by 124%, Italy by 35%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.47HK$66.5
$20.46€18.38
-58.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7HK$508
$79.5€71.4
-18.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.25HK$49.02
$11.15€10.02
-43.95%
Cappuccino
$5.17HK$40.58
$2.04€1.83
153.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31HK$10.28
$3.10€2.79
-57.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13HK$8.88
$1.40€1.26
-19.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.44HK$58.4
$5.51€4.95
35.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.54HK$51.3
$5.74€5.16
13.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.90HK$22.76
$1.57€1.41
84.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.35HK$18.47
$2.38€2.14
-1.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25HK$17.68
$2.90€2.60
-22.41%
Eggs
$3.45HK$27.10
$4.07€3.66
-15.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.79HK$194
$17.44€15.67
42.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.85HK$69.4
$12.56€11.28
-29.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.08HK$142
$20.17€18.12
-10.36%
Apples(1kg)
$4.05HK$31.77
$2.58€2.32
56.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62HK$20.55
$2.19€1.97
19.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.71HK$36.93
$2.68€2.41
75.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.95HK$30.95
$3.27€2.94
20.80%
Potato(1kg)
$3.21HK$25.15
$1.90€1.71
68.95%
Onion(1kg)
$3.22HK$25.24
$1.82€1.63
76.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66HK$13.00
$1.57€1.41
5.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77HK$13.92
$0.55€0.49
221.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.43HK$105
$6.69€6.01
100.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.22HK$119
$7.99€7.18
90.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98HK$15.50
$1.77€1.59
11.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29HK$17.95
$2.35€2.11
-2.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.34HK$10.50
$1.91€1.72
-29.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.5HK$702
$43.44€39.03
106.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.73HK$29.22
$5.62€5.05
-33.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36HK$10.66
$1.71€1.54
-20.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.00HK$126
$33.64€30.22
-52.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.98HK$31.21
$2.03€1.82
96.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.5KHK$348.9K
$35.3K€31.7K
25.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6KHK$295.3K
$36.7K€33.0K
2.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239HK$1,878
$227€204
5.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.99HK$125
$11.59€10.41
37.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.59HK$169
$30.38€27.30
-28.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.3HK$771
$51.8€46.52
89.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.38HK$73.6
$23.70€21.29
-60.42%
Cinema Ticket
$12.59HK$98.8
$10.60€9.53
18.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,280HK$10.0K
$568€510
125.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.6KHK$177.3K
$11.5K€10.4K
96.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8HK$531
$90.5€81.3
-25.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.21HK$339
$38.55€34.64
12.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.9HK$650
$103€92.2
-19.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124HK$973
$131€118
-5.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,373HK$18.6K
$826€742
187.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,777HK$13.9K
$646€581
174.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,399HK$42.4K
$1,400€1,258
285.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,614HK$28.4K
$1,054€947
242.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$29.5KHK$231.1K
$3,662€3,290
704.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$17.9KHK$140.2K
$2,301€2,068
676.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,297HK$25.9K
$1,886€1,695
74.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
3.56
6.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hong Kong (China): October 25, 2026
Last update for Italy: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong (China)
$1.8K 58.3%
Italy
$646 35.1% ↓ 63.6%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong (China)
$412 13.5%
Italy
$348 18.9% ↓ 15.5%$64
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong (China)
$277 9.1%
Italy
$269 14.6% ↓ 3.1%$8.5
🍽Eating Out
Hong Kong (China)
$209 6.9%
Italy
$279 15.1% ↑ 33.5%$70
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong (China)
$143 4.7%
Italy
$163 8.9% ↑ 14.1%$20
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong (China)
$124 4.1%
Italy
$73 4% ↓ 40.9%$51
🚌Getting Around
Hong Kong (China)
$105 3.5%
Italy
$65 3.5% ↓ 38.1%$40
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong (China)
$3.6K 56.6%
Italy
$1.1K 27.8% ↓ 70.8%$2.6K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong (China)
$957 15%
Italy
$823 21.7% ↓ 14.1%$135
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong (China)
$293 4.6%
Italy
$280 7.4% ↓ 4.4%$13
🍽Eating Out
Hong Kong (China)
$732 11.5%
Italy
$964 25.5% ↑ 31.8%$233
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong (China)
$318 5%
Italy
$363 9.6% ↑ 14.1%$45
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong (China)
$256 4%
Italy
$170 4.5% ↓ 33.8%$87
🚌Getting Around
Hong Kong (China)
$213 3.3%
Italy
$134 3.6% ↓ 37.1%$79
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $2,432 in Hong Kong (China) vs $729 in Italy. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,432 in Hong Kong and $1,297 in Rome.
💰Average salary: $3,264 in Hong Kong (China) vs $1,890 in Italy. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 234% higher in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Dining out costs 16% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 105% more expensive in Hong Kong (China).
Hong Kong (China)→Italy9,280 km≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
Hong Kong (China)
Italy
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Hong Kong (China) vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Hong Kong (China) or Italy?
Italy is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 40% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Hong Kong (China) or in Italy?
Housing costs more in Hong Kong (China): a central one-bedroom averages $2,432 versus $729 in Italy.
Which country is better for expats: Hong Kong (China) or Italy?
Italy is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
Hong Kong (China) vs other spots: cost of living compared